The Menlo School volleyball team took its first loss in nearly two months in a 30-28, 25-19, 25-21 loss to Mitty in the CCS Division Open Championship on Saturday at Gunn High School.
The third-seeded Knights (28-6) kept pace in the first set when senior outside hitter Shaton Nejad landed nine of her team-high 18 kills. The teams tied at 22-all then 23-all. Menlo’s Hanna Hoffman delivered a cross-court kills and Simone Adam made an ace for a 25-24 lead.The teams tied at 26 and 28 when Mitty put away the game on a service error and Kendra MacDonald’s kill and ace.

The Knights pulled ahead 7-2 in the second set, but Mitty climbed back to tie at 8 and take over the lead, winning a joust.Mitty lead from the start in Set 3. The Knights pulled to within two on kills by Hanna Hoffman, Nejad and Nejad’s block, but could not overtake Mitty.
Nejad hit 62.1 percent for the match while fellow senior Simone Adam added seven kills, five digs and three aces. Senior Zoe Gregory distributed 24 assists, had five digs and a pair of aces. Senior Hanna Hoffman picked up 10 assists, four kills and six digs. Senior Alli McKenney added eight digs and sophomore Cleo Hardin had four kills and two b locks.
The Knights will learn their NorCals match-up on Sunday evening.